Woodchippy, Don't know if this your James Preston or not. >From History of Rhea County, TN: page 125 --Chapter 21 --Towns and Communities ..."The first recorded postmaster in Rhea County was Daniel Rawlings, who served in the Town of Washington from 1811 through 1818. During this same period, post offices also were in operation at Whites Creek and Prestonville. James Preston was postmaster at Whites Creek in 1814 (name changed to Valley Forge in 1823 and at Prestonville in 1816."... page 138 PRESTONVILLE (RODDY) "Prestonville, now known as Roddy, was one of the earliest group settlements in the upper end of Rhea County. It is only two or three miles from White's Creek, the county's northern boundary, and seems to have inherited the name of Senator George Preston, author of the county enabling act. A fine type of citizenship has lived in that community at every period of its century and a quarter of history, but, since no industry of consequence has ever been developed there, Roddy is still just a village. It is the site of a post office and a railroad station."(Campbell 1940:35 According to the list of post offices in Rhea County, Prestonville became Louella before being renamed Roddy in 1880. James Preston, the first Postmaster at Prestonville, had previously served as Postmaster at the Whites Creek office (1814-1816). It's exact location is unknown. James Preston was Postmaster from Apr 27, 1816 to May 27, 1823. page 148 -Tow String Valley "In the early 1800's, part of the valley was owned by Cumberland Rector. The northern part, near White's Creek, belonged to Colonel James Preston, who bought it from Richard Waterhouse for $300. Waterhouse had 250 acres here and later Col. Preston bought an additional 26 acres. This had earlier been owned by William York. Preston built a large two-story log house with a separate log kitchen. When Col. Preston died, his son inherited the land. page 251 ..."During the war of 1812 William Goad's sone, William Jr. and Edward, served from Rhea County in Captain James Preston's Company of East Tennessee Infantry." page 377 "William H. Stockton" ..."James T. Stockton (born in 1769) was an older brother of William Hayden Stockton. He also was included on the 1820 Rhea County Tax List, and evidently was living in the Hiwassee District, since he was listed as a School Commissioner in Meigs County in 1838. On Sep 5, 1833(Rhea County), James married Nancy Preston, daughter of James and Charlotte Preston. Nancy was deceased by 1840 when her father died, but James and their four children (William, Manda, Preston, and Rector) were mentioned in the will. Prior to 1850, James moved to Missouri (probably with his step-father, James Wilson), where he re-married. The children by Nancy Preston most likely remained in Rhea County." Larry